Hot log shear

ABSTRACT

A selected length of a hot aluminum billet or log is fed into the die openings of a relatively fixed and a relatively movable die, which are at the time aligned. Then an arm, which supports one die is pivoted to achieve a scissors-like action between the dies to sever the desired length of billet from the log. The pivotal movement of the arm is continued bringing a fluidactuated plunger on the arm into alignment with the fixed die, and the movable die with the severed billet therein into alignment with a fluid-actuated fixed plunger. Both plungers are then actuated, respectively, to push the remainder of the log back out of the fixed die into the heating furnace and to push the severed billet out of the movable die whence it is conveyed to the extrusion press. The log is clamped during severing of the billet to prevent any movement of the log inside the dies or the log heater during the shearing operation.

1451 Dec. 25, 1973 United States Patent 11 1 Jentsch, Jr. et al.

[ HOT Lot; SHEAR Primary ExaminerFrank T. Yost [75] Inventors: Alfred C. Jentsch, Jr., Fairport; Edward I. Taylor, Jr., Pittsford; Walter Shukoff, Rochester, all of NY.

[73] Assignee: USM Corporation, Boston, Mass.

22 Filed:

May 15, 1972 [21] APPL No; 253,623 Then an arm, which supports one die is pivoted to achieve a scissors-like action between the dies to sever the desired length of billet from the log. The pivotal [52] US. 83/23, 83/123, 83/150, v m nt of the arm is continued bringing a fluid- 83/461 actuated plunger on the arm into alignment with the [51] Int. B23d 17/06, B26d 3/16 fi d di a d th movable die with the severed billet [58] Field of 83/23, 123, 150, th r in into alignment with a fluid-actuated fixed 380 plunger. Both plungers are then actuated, respectively,

to push the remainder of the log back out of the fixed die into the heating furnace and to push the severed [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS billet out of the movable die whence it is conveyed to the extrusion press. The log is clamped during severing of the billet to prevent any movement of the log 33/199 inside the dies or the log heater during the shearing 83/199 X operation. 83/199 X 5 Drawing Figures Arcarese et 7 Claims,

PATENTEDUEEZSIUYS SREEIIBFS FIG. 2

PATENTED UEBZ 5 I375 8HEET20F3 FIG. 3

HOT LOG SHEAR The present invention relates to a billet cutting method and apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for severing hot aluminum billets from a hot log.

Aluminum extruders, especially those which are operated in conjunction with gas-fired billet heaters, need a fast adjustable means for changing billet length just before the billet goes into the extrusion press. This is so because different dies require different billet lengths to run efficiently; and if there is a die failure for any reason, the whole length of the billet heater (generally twenty or forty feet) must be emptied of one length of precut billets to change to another length. Furthermore, for different types of extrusions different lengths of billets must be cut from the billet log to achieve the desired net length of the finished extrusions. Moreover, as extrusion dies wear, more pounds of aluminum per foot are required to achieve the desired billet length.

One method of cutting aluminum billets and the like to lengths suitable for extrusion comprises feeding the billet log to an adjustable stop and then cutting the desired length of billet off the log with a power-driven hack, band, or circular saw.

Saw cutting of billets has serious drawbacks, how- 7 ever, among them the loss in scrap due to saw chips and the maintenance of the sawing equipment.

For this reason attempts have been made to cut billets to the desired length by feeding a hot log into the die openings of a pair of relatively movable dies and moving one of the dies relative to the other to sever from the log a desired length of billet for subsequent extrusion. In one such method a vertically movable, tubular upper die slides on guide surfaces upwardly to sever a billet from a hot log held in a fixed tubular lower die. After the shearing operation an ejector, including a pusher bar, ejects the severed billet from the movable die and from a supporting cradle, when the movable die and cradle are returned to their lowermost positions after severing of the billet.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of severing hot aluminum billets from a log to reduce scrap loss and to provide readily billets of the required length for the extrusion press.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for clamping the heated log during severing so that no damage results to the billet heater.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a log shearing ma chine built according to one embodiment of this invention, showing a general front view of the billet exit end, the shear arm, and various operating parts;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of this machine;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the hydraulic circuit of the machine; and

FIG. 5 is an electrical diagram of the machine.

In the process of the present invention the aluminum logs are heated to the working temperature, and then confined in the die openings of adjacent fixed and movable dies. The log is then clamped; and a billet of a predetermined length is severed from the log by movement of the movable die. Thereafter, the severed billet is pushed from the movable die; and the aluminum log is pushed back into the billet heater for reheating. Prior shears have no clamping action on the logs; and billet heater damage has resulted.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference, l2 denotes a stationary frame upon which the operating components of the shear are mounted. Bolted to the front face of this frame by bolts 14 is a cylinder 16 (FIGS. 1 and 3) in which a piston 18 (FIG. 4) reciprocates. Integral with or secured to the piston 18 is a ram 20 that has a rounded head 21 which engages against an arm 23 that is mounted on the frame 12 to pivot about the shaft 25 (FIG. I). The arm 23 is guided in its swinging movement about pivot 25 on an arcuate guideway 27 on which it is held by the gib 29 which is secured to the frame 12 by bolts 30.

The arm 23 carries an interchangeable tubular cutting die 32 that is swingable in an are relative to a stationary die 34 (FIG. 3) to effect the shearing operation.

Also mounted on the moving arm 23 is a log pushback cylinder in which the piston 62 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is reciprocable. The piston rod 64 of this piston has a head 66 which is adapted to enter into and through the bore 38 of the stationary die, when the arm 23 has swung far enough for the cylinder 60 to be in alignment with that bore, so that the head 66 of the piston can push the log back into the heater or furnace 68, which is directly behind the shear so that this log can be reheated.

This is an improvement over earlier existing equipment that used pinch rolls as part of the log heater and pulled the log remaining, after shearing a billet off it, back into the furnace. With this earlier design pieces up to approximately 20 inches long remained in the fixed die.

Also attached to the swinging arm 23 is a billet cradle which supports the cut billet after it has been severed from the log and has been pushed out of the pivotable die 32. This cradle also retains this die 32 in proper position in the moving arm 23.

A billet push cylinder 82 (FIGS. 2 and 4) has a piston 83 reciprocable in it and is mounted to the frame 12. This piston through its piston rod pushes the severed billet from the movable die 32 when the moving arm 23 has made its full arc of travel to the down position.

The shear arm 23 is adapted to be swung back to original position after a shearing operation by a pushback piston 40 (FIGS. 1 and 4) which is reciprocable in a cylinder 42 mounted on the base of the machine and connected by a piston rod 44 and pivot pin 46 with the arm 23.

The two dies 32 and 34 are each interchangeable so as to permit substituting dies of proper size for each diameter or shape of billet which is to be cut by the shear. The two dies shown are provided with bores 36 and 38, respectively, which are of approximately the same diameter as, and which conform to, the cross-sectional shape of the billet to be sheared. 1

The length of the billet, which is to be sheared, can be adjusted by hand wheel 50 which is rotatable in a guide 52 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and threads into a nut (not shown) carried by a bracket 54 that has arms 56 extending laterally from it which carry an adjustable stop 58 against which the log, from which the billets are to be severed, is adjusted.

Cylindrical guide bars 84 and 86 (FIGS. 11 and 2) project forwardly from the cradle 70 to support the log during the billet severing operation.

During the shearing operation the log, from which the billet isto be severed, is clamped between a yoketype clamp 72 (FIGS. 2 and 4) which is actuated by a piston 73, and an anvil 77. Piston '73 is reciprocable vertically in the cylinder 74 which is carried by the frame and its piston rod 76 projects through the bottom of cylinder '74 and is connected by pins 78 (FIGS. 2)

to the yoke clamp 72. The purpose of this clamp unit is to prevent any motion of the log inside the log heater during actual severing of the billet from the log.

In operation, the hot log L (FIG. 4) is first pushed by the log heater mechanism through the fixed die 34 and the movable die 32 against the adjustable billet stop 58. This trips and closes the limit switch LS 31 (FIG. closing a circuit from main line L through normally closed limit switch LS 33 and solenoid 100 to the mainline L This energizes solenoid 100, shifting valve 102 (FIG. 4) to put the upper end of the cylinder 74 on supply and the lower end on exhaust so that the motive fluid flows through pump Mid, which is driven by motor 106, from sump 108 through valve 110, which is at this time in the position shown, through ducts 112, M4, now-shifted valve 102, and line 116 above the piston 73, to force the log down on the lower fixed clamp 77. This closes the pressure switch 129 (FIG. 4 and 5) which energizes the solenoids R22, 124 and 126.

Energization of the solenoid 122 causes the valve 128 to be shifted to put duct 130 on supply from duct 112 and duct 132 on exhaust, and simultaneously with energization of solenoid 12d, valve 13d is shifted to put duct 136 on supply from line 112 through line 138, and to put the line 140 on exhaust through valve 134 and duct 142 back to the sump. This causes the ram to engage the arm 23 and push it down while the piston 40 is pull ing down on this arm so that the die 32 carried by the arm severs the billet from the log.

At the end of this shearing stroke the arm trips the limit switch LS 33 opening this switch. This deenergizes solenoid 100; and the spring 503 returns the valve 102 to the position shown in FIG. 4. The lower end of cylinder 74 is therefore put on supply and the upper end on exhaust, releasing the log clamp 72. At the end of its downward movement, the arm 23 also trips and closes a limit switch LS 33', which is tripped simultaneously with limit switch LS 33. When the clamp 72 has returned to its fully-released position, it again closes limit switch LS 34. This closes a circuit from main line L,, through limit switches L5 34, LS 33' and LS 38 to solenoid 146 of valve 145, shifting the valve 145, and causing piston 62 in cylinder 60 to move in the direction to push the log, from which the billet has been severed, back into the furnace.

The rear end of the cylinder 60 is put on supply from duct 112 through the shifted valve and the line 147. At the same time the front end of the cylinder is put on exhaust through the line 148, the now shifted valve 145, and the line 149 that goes to the sump 108.

Upon closing of the limit switch LS 33, the solenoid 150 will also be actuated so that the valve 152 will be shifted to put the rear end of the cylinder 82 on supply from the duct 1H2 through the now-shifted valve E52 and the duct 154. The front end of this cylinder will go on exhaust through the duct 156, the now-shifted valve 152 to the sump 108 so that rod 85 advances. The limit switch LS 40 is closed at this time.

At this point, the log has been pushed fully back into the log heater or furnace 68 (FIG. 2) and the billet has been pushed out onto the billet cradle (FIG. 1). The billet may then be transferred into the press and be extruded.

At the end of its movement in pushing the log back into the furnace, the piston 62 will trip the limit switch LS 38, causing the solenoid 360 to be energized which returns valve M5 to the position shown in FIG. 4 and causes return of piston 62 to the position shown in that Fig. Also, at the end of its advance, piston 83 opens switch LS 4th to deenergize solenoid 150 to return piston 83 to its starting position (FIG. 4).

Upon the return movement of the log pushback piston 62 and of the billet pusher piston 83, the limit switches LS 39 and LS 4i which are associated with these two pistons, respectively, are closed; and since L846 is closed, solenoid 162 is energized to cause piston 40 to return arm 23 to its starting position (FIG. 4). During return movement of the arm 23 the limit switch LS 46 is closed energizing the solenoid I162 causing the valve 128 to be shifted back to the position shown in FIG. 4.

Simultaneously, the solenoid is operated through the closed pressure switch 127.

From the above it will be seen then that the hot log, which is to be sheared, is fed out of the furnace or heater 68 through the bores of the tubular dies 34 (FIG. 3) and 32 (FIG. 1) until its protruding end contacts stop 58. Then clamp piston 73 (FIG. 4) will be actuated to cause clamp 72 to descend and clamp the log against anvil 77. Then pistons 18 and 40 will be actuated to push and pull, respectively, on arm 23, causing this arm to pivot about shaft 25 and sever a billet of the desired length from the hot log. At the end of the downward pivotal movement of the arm, the limit switch LS 33 will be tripped to cause release of the log clamp 72, and the cylinder 60 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) will be aligned with fixed die 34 and the cradle 70 will be moved into alignment with cylinder 82. At the end of the upward releasing movement of the clamp 72, limit switch LS 34 will again be closed. The pistons 62 and 83 (FIG. 4) of the two cylinders 60 and 82 will then be actuated to push the log back into the furnace and push the severed billet into the cradle 70 for removal from the machine. The pistons 40 and 18 will then be reversed to return the arm 23 to the position shown in FIG. 1, ready for another shearing operation.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any modification of the invention, coming within the disclosure or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A billet shearing machine comprising a fixed tubular die mounted in said frame and having an opening for receiving a billet log,

a carrier pivotally mounted on said frame,

a tubular die mounted on said carrier and having a bore therein of approximately the same crosssectional size and shape as said fixed die and adapted also to receive the billet log when said dies are aligned,

means for effecting pivotal movement of said carrier in one direction to cause said dies to sever a billet from said log,

a reciprocable plunger mounted on said carrier in offset relation to the second-named die and disposed to be aligned with said fixed die at the end of the pivotal movement of the carrier in said one direction, and

means operative thereupon to actuate said plunger to push the log out of said fixed die.

2. A billet shearing machine as claimed in claim I,

wherein a second reciprocable plunger is mounted on said frame in offset relation to said fixed die for movement parallel to the longitudinal center line of said fixed die and positioned so that at the end of the pivotal movement of said carrier in said one direction it is aligned axially with said second-named die, and

means operative thereupon to actuate said second plunger to push the severed billet out of the second-named die.

3. A billet shearing maching comprising a frame, a

a fixed tubular die mounted in said frame and having an opening for receiving a billet log,

a carrier pivotally mounted on said frame,

a tubular die mounted on said carrier and having a bore therein approximately the same crosssectional size and shape as said fixed die and adapted also to receive the billet log when said dies are aligned,

means for effecting pivotal movement of said carrier in one direction to cause said dies to sever a billet from said log,

fluid-pressure operated means, including a movable plunger, mounted on said carrier in offset relation to said second-named die and in position to be aligned with said fixed die at the end of the pivotal movement of said carrier in said one direction,

fluid pressure operated means, including a movable plunger mounted on said frame in offset relation to said fixed die for movement parallel to the longitudinal center line of said fixed die and positioned so that at the end of the pivotal movement of said carrier in said one direction it is aligned with said second-named die, and

means for simultaneously actuating both fluidpressure operated means simultaneously to push the log out of said fixed die and to push the severed billet out of the second-named die.

4. A billet shearing machine as claimed in claim 3 having means for releasing said clamping means at the end of the pivotal movement of said carrier in said one direction, and means operative upon release of said clamping means to render said two fluid-pressure operated means operative to push the log out of said fixed die and to push the severed billet out of the secondnamed die.

5. A billet shearing machine comprising a frame,

a fixed tubular die mounted in said frame and having an opening for receiving a billet log,

a carrier pivotally mounted on said frame,

a tubular die mounted on said carrier and having a bore therein of approximately the same crosssectional size and shape as said fixed die and adapted also to receive the billet log when said dies are aligned,

means for effecting pivotal movement of said carrier in one direction to cause said dies to sever a billet from said log,

means for clamping the log against movement prior to the severing pivotal movement of said carrier,

means for releasing said clamping means at the end of the pivotal movement of said carrier in said one direction, and

means for pushing the log out of said fixed die upon release of the log.

6. A billet shearing machine comprising a frame,

a fixed die mounted on said frame and having a bore for receiving a hot billet log,

a carrier pivotally mounted on said frame,

a second die mounted on said carrier and having a bore of approximately the same size and shape as the bore of said fixed due and also adapted to receive the billet log when the two dies are in alignment,

means for clamping the billet log against movement in the two dies,

means for effecting pivotal movement of said carrier in one direction to produce a shearing action between the two dies to sever a billet from the log in the dies,

a limit switch operative, when the log has been disposed in the two dies, to actuate the last-named means to effect the shearing operation,

means operative at the end of the pivotal movement of said carrier in said one direction to release said clamping means, and

means operative upon release of said clamping means to push the log out of said fixed die and simultaneously to push said severed billet out of the second-named die.

'7. The method of shearing a billet from a hot billet log, which comprises positioning the log in aligned bores of a fixed and a pivotal tubular die,

clamping the log against movement,

pivoting the pivotal die to shear a billet from the log, releasing the log, and pushing the severed billet out of the pivotal die and the log out of the fixed die into a billet heater. 

1. A billet shearing machine comprising a fixed tubular die mounted in said frame and having an opening for receiving a billet log, a carrier pivotally mounted on said frame, a tubular die mounted on said carrier and having a bore therein of approximately the same cross-sectional size and shape as said fixed die and adapted also to receive the billet log when said dies are aligned, means for effecting pivotal movement of said carrier in one direction to cause said dies to sever a billet from said log, a reciprocable plunger mounted on said carrier in offset relation to the second-named die and disposed to be aligned with said fixed die at the end of the pivotal movement of the carrier in said one direction, and means operative thereupon to actuate said plunger to push the log out of said fixed die.
 2. A billet shearing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second reciprocable plunger is mounted on said frame in offset relation to said fixed die for movement parallel to the longitudinal center line of said fixed die and positioned so that at the end of the pivotal movement Of said carrier in said one direction it is aligned axially with said second-named die, and means operative thereupon to actuate said second plunger to push the severed billet out of the second-named die.
 3. A billet shearing maching comprising a frame, a fixed tubular die mounted in said frame and having an opening for receiving a billet log, a carrier pivotally mounted on said frame, a tubular die mounted on said carrier and having a bore therein approximately the same cross-sectional size and shape as said fixed die and adapted also to receive the billet log when said dies are aligned, means for effecting pivotal movement of said carrier in one direction to cause said dies to sever a billet from said log, fluid-pressure operated means, including a movable plunger, mounted on said carrier in offset relation to said second-named die and in position to be aligned with said fixed die at the end of the pivotal movement of said carrier in said one direction, fluid pressure operated means, including a movable plunger mounted on said frame in offset relation to said fixed die for movement parallel to the longitudinal center line of said fixed die and positioned so that at the end of the pivotal movement of said carrier in said one direction it is aligned with said second-named die, and means for simultaneously actuating both fluid-pressure operated means simultaneously to push the log out of said fixed die and to push the severed billet out of the second-named die.
 4. A billet shearing machine as claimed in claim 3 having means for releasing said clamping means at the end of the pivotal movement of said carrier in said one direction, and means operative upon release of said clamping means to render said two fluid-pressure operated means operative to push the log out of said fixed die and to push the severed billet out of the second-named die.
 5. A billet shearing machine comprising a frame, a fixed tubular die mounted in said frame and having an opening for receiving a billet log, a carrier pivotally mounted on said frame, a tubular die mounted on said carrier and having a bore therein of approximately the same cross-sectional size and shape as said fixed die and adapted also to receive the billet log when said dies are aligned, means for effecting pivotal movement of said carrier in one direction to cause said dies to sever a billet from said log, means for clamping the log against movement prior to the severing pivotal movement of said carrier, means for releasing said clamping means at the end of the pivotal movement of said carrier in said one direction, and means for pushing the log out of said fixed die upon release of the log.
 6. A billet shearing machine comprising a frame, a fixed die mounted on said frame and having a bore for receiving a hot billet log, a carrier pivotally mounted on said frame, a second die mounted on said carrier and having a bore of approximately the same size and shape as the bore of said fixed due and also adapted to receive the billet log when the two dies are in alignment, means for clamping the billet log against movement in the two dies, means for effecting pivotal movement of said carrier in one direction to produce a shearing action between the two dies to sever a billet from the log in the dies, a limit switch operative, when the log has been disposed in the two dies, to actuate the last-named means to effect the shearing operation, means operative at the end of the pivotal movement of said carrier in said one direction to release said clamping means, and means operative upon release of said clamping means to push the log out of said fixed die and simultaneously to push said severed billet out of the second-named die.
 7. The method of shearing a billet from a hot billet log, which comprises positioning the log in aligned bores of a fixed and a pivotal tubular die, clamping tHe log against movement, pivoting the pivotal die to shear a billet from the log, releasing the log, and pushing the severed billet out of the pivotal die and the log out of the fixed die into a billet heater. 